$5.3M Naples Wrongful Death Verdict Awarded to Family of Motorcyclist

A jury has awarded the family of Andrew C. Corsini, Jr. $5.3 million for his Naples wrongful death. The 49-year-old Islamorada man died on May 17, 2009 after he was struck head-on by another vehicle in a Collier County motorcycle accident. The 1996 Jeep that hit Andrew, a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, had driven into oncoming traffic on US 41.

The impact of the Naples motorcycle accident pushed Andrew motorbike into his wife’s motorcycle. Melissa Dawn Corsini sustained serious injuries, including torn ligaments, broken bones, a concussion, and other injuries. Meantime, according to the family’s wrongful death lawyer, Andrew’s organs were “pulpified” and “his aorta was ripped out from his heart” during the crash.

Also injured in the Naples car accident were the Jeep’s driver, 77-year-old driver Carlos Riol, who sustained minor injuries, and his 73-year-old passenger, Maria Gomez, who suffered serious injuries. Riol received a ticket for failing to maintain a single lane. A police trooper told a county judge that the elderly motorist might have fallen asleep while driving. Riol’s license was suspended for a year and he was fined $20,000.

The jury awarded Melissa $1.2 million for the loss of her husband’s protection and companionship and mental pain and suffering, $1.77 million for loss of future support and services, $10,197 for loss of his pass services and support, $126,000 for her suffering, pain, mental anguish, disability, and physical impairment, and $17,256 for past medical bills. Andrew’s children and grandson were also awarded damages.

Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving, which includes falling asleep at the wheel or driving while lethargic, sleepy, or tired, claims more than a thousand lives while injuring tens of thousands of others each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that drowsy driving causes about 100,000 traffic crashes annually.